I'm Ornn, and I'm about to be beaten to my knees by the Man-eating Horse Girl!

"But the other party was able to interfere at this crucial point, so he must have received instructions from that agent. Therefore, the old man wants to investigate further and also check the troubles left behind by the Hongkou Group. Maybe he can find something in this area."

Orn nodded. Just as he had guessed, Morita Itsuki wouldn't give himself away in something like this, and he couldn't possibly find any weakness in his opponent through a small dojo.

To truly defeat the opponent, we must look at our own performance.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Alright, thank you for your investigation, Brother Wada. Since Uncle Kitajima has his own plans, let's do as he says."

"Alright, kid, I won't disturb your training anymore."

A smile crept across Wada's somewhat fierce face: "This competition is attracting a lot of attention. Many of my men are fans of your team, and even the young lady will be watching. Don't embarrass yourself by showing up in an 18-inch outfit, or you'll be getting a beating!"

"Train hard! Let's go!"

He waved and ended the video call first.

Orn placed the phone on the wooden table in the room, then picked up a hammer and began gently tapping the sphere of rising rose-colored flames in front of him until it was shaped into a four-pointed star.

【Dragon Heart】.

This item has only one effect: it increases the user's health, armor, magic resistance, ability power, attack damage, attack speed, and spell haste by 5%, and increases by an additional 5% for each Dragon Soul owned.

Every two rounds, the user will be granted a Dragon Soul. Once all the Dragon Souls are collected, an ancient power will appear within the user's body.

After much deliberation, Ornn ultimately chose to use this piece of equipment as the framework for the Little Chestnut Hat Finale outfit.

The reason for choosing this equipment is not only because of the high percentage increase in attributes, but also because the Dragon Heart provides a wide range of attribute boosts, increasing all five dimensions of the horse's attributes.

Furthermore, since the equipment itself can adapt to all attribute bonuses, it is easier for Ornn to add other additional attributes on top of this framework in the future.

However, this equipment doesn't provide the Dragon Soul boost. Aside from the distance to Valoran, Ornn himself is currently incapable of forging a true Dragon Heart item.

The [Dragon Heart] he's now replicating not only lacks any increase in spell power, but its attribute bonus is also only 3%, which is less than the speed and strength bonuses directly provided by the three pairs of shoes he created before.

However, while this equipment won't provide Oguri Hattori with a sudden boost, it will make him stronger in every subsequent match. The higher Oguri Hattori's physical strength and the more major matches he participates in, the greater the improvement he will gain.

Orn picked up the crimson four-pointed star, which shimmered with a magnificent luster, and couldn't help but sigh.

Oguri Hat is very healthy, not only in terms of her flexibility, but also because of her strong heart.

Compared to Shining Radiance, who was barely breathing after just one lap, Oguri Hat's breathing remained steady even after ten laps.

"It's like the heart of a dragon. I didn't expect it to fit so well."

Orn took a piece of gold paint and brushed it onto the creation, which looked as if it had stepped out of a magical world. Then he picked up a hammer and tapped it to completely fix the paint onto the surface of the star.

Since he started donating what looked like broken-down gym equipment to Kasamatsu Tressen, his antique-finishing techniques have become increasingly sophisticated. Now, his creations are no longer so easily recognizable as they once were.

Although it still can't fool those with a discerning eye, most trainers and horse girls would never be able to tell the quality of what he makes without actually touching it.

He stuck the gold four-pointed star in his hand onto his blue and white sailor uniform, hesitated for a moment, and then pulled out the red scarf that was wrapped around his chest.

He then picked up a purple cloak beside him, cut a piece of cloth of equal length from it, and then, repeating his previous trick, dyed the purple cloth red and wrapped it around his sailor uniform again.

"Alright, everything's ready now. Xiaoli can come back and try it on."

After packing the clothes into his bag, Orn rode his electric scooter toward Kasamatsu Tressen.

He had just stepped through the door when a hand grabbed his arm.

Fujimasa raised her chin and said, "Oh, I thought you'd forgotten about Oguri! While you were gone, some reporters came to raid the place, you know?"

"reporter?"

Orn frowned and quickly asked, "Why are there reporters interviewing Oguri now? Wasn't the press conference for the Japanese derby held three days ago? I even deliberately timed it to avoid these interviews, so why are there still clueless reporters?"

Fujimasa shrugged and said, "I don't know. The other party claimed to be a reporter from NHK TV, her name is... Otana Fumiko. She was quite quick; she came to interview me as soon as she received the news that Oguri Hat was participating in the competition."

Orn glanced at the little girl in the chestnut hat who was warming up not far away: "So the reporter's gone now? Did she ask anything?"

"Hmph, of course she won't get anything out of her,"

Fujimasa's ears stood erect, and its tail began to wag from side to side.

"Just as you instructed, with my intervention, the other party slunk away without getting a single question out!"

Looking at the smug girl in front of him, Orn praised, "Good, as expected of the brains of my Dolan Squad, well done!"

He tried to twist his left arm, which was being held, but Fujimasa March continued to grip it tightly.

"?"

Orn looked at the other person with some confusion, only to find that Fujimasa March had let go of her hand, then opened her arms and made a hugging gesture.

"...Ahem, you've done an excellent job completing the task you assigned, shouldn't you give me some reward?"

Upon hearing Fujimasa's words, Orn immediately nodded in understanding.

He reached into his backpack and pulled out a rather short purple cloak, wrapping it around the blue-haired girl's head. The outfit resembled popular clothing in Saudi Arabia.

Orn laughed and said, "Alright, this is your reward."

"The final outfit is ready. I'm going to find Oguri to try it on now."

As she spoke, the little electric scooter sped forward at great speed toward the direction where Little Chestnut Hat was, leaving the horse girl with the purple cloak wrapped around her head bewildered in the wind.

"See that? That's a true master of playing dumb!"

Kitahara put down his binoculars and said to Shibasaki in the office, "Tsk tsk tsk, if you don't learn from Orn's wisdom soon, you might not be long before you head for your grave!"

Shibasaki waved his hand dismissively and said, "I think you really have nothing better to do than peep at other people's private affairs instead of studying. How boring!"

"I'm 36 years old, I haven't had any thoughts about that for a long time. Go away, don't try to label me like that."

Kitahara didn't speak. He glanced at Shibasaki, who was completely unaware that the table was full of small ornaments given to him by Noren Ace, and decided to remain silent.

"By the way, should we see them off for the Japanese derby? They should be leaving in two hours, right?"

"No need. Ornn specifically told us not to make such a fuss, just watch them go."

Shibasaki glanced at the newspaper on the table and said with a sigh, "The Japanese derby... This was a match I never dared to dream of before. Now, a junior is leading the charge into this competition. And it's only been less than three months, hasn't it?"

Kitahara sighed, "Yeah! I wonder if Orn and Oguri can win the Japanese derby. But if they do win, they probably won't stay in Kasamatsu anymore, right?"

Shibasaki nodded: "They should be transferred to the central government. After all, the training conditions in the local areas are still too poor. Only the central government can provide them with a stage to show their skills."

"As Kasamatsu's colleague and senior, let's support them. The future definitely belongs to them."

Chapter 87 Puppet Master Puppet

"Mr. Morita, our collaboration with you this time has been a great success. Let me toast you."

"Director Morita, please take a closer look at this contract. It's the contract you mentioned before regarding cultural and creative products related to the Equestrian Girl brand under the Symbol Family. I hope you can take some time to review it!"

"Mr. Morita, your business seems to be booming lately. We heard you've discovered another promising trainer? Would you like to exchange information with us?"

In the opulent ballroom, the spirited Morita Itsuki and his guests clinked glasses, the man, though nearing forty, still exuding an aura of sharp charisma.

He calmly orchestrated everything in the dance hall, as if he were the center of attention.

This is a manor owned by the family business, primarily used for hosting banquets and gatherings for business partners.

As the person chosen by the family to represent them, Morita Itsuki's daily routine included coordinating various parties and strengthening relationships with partners.

This is a position that can be incredibly exhausting, but it's also one where you can truly enjoy your status and rights.

Morita Itsuki really enjoyed this feeling. Although it was tiring, it brought him inner satisfaction. Ultimately, what he loved was the wonderful feeling of being above others.

After the banquet ended, the guests dispersed, and Morita Itsuki, the host, returned to his bedroom.

He turned on the light, and the bright, warm light dispelled the darkness in the room. The elegant room, custom-designed by the Milan-based ARMANI design group, was bathed in the clear light of the crystal chandelier, creating a calming ambiance.

Morita Itsuki removed his fitted suit and casually tossed the luxury bespoke European pieces onto the sofa, as if they were utterly worthless.

He then went into the washroom, which, although called a washroom, was actually a space with a huge 28-square-meter pool.

One side of the room features a floor-to-ceiling window, allowing bathers to enjoy views of the manor's surroundings. Even at night, Tokyo's cityscape remains brightly lit, the orange glow like fireflies dotting the distant horizon.

He immersed himself in the bathtub, which was already filled with warm water. The delicate fragrance of flower petals filled the air as he entered, instantly relaxing his mind.

This time of day is when Morita Itsuki enjoys himself the most.

In the secluded manor, far from the hustle and bustle of the big city, surrounded by tranquil fragrances, he could finally relax for a while.

'Speaking of which, the Japanese derby is about to start, if I remember correctly, it's tomorrow?'

Let's take a look at the interviews. Who are the participants in this year's Japanese derby?

As he pondered this, he picked up his phone, which was lying beside the bathtub, and began reviewing the press conference held before the Japanese derby.

Whenever a major competition is held, the participating horses and their trainers attend these press conferences to show off their horses' winning outfits, exchange some tough words, and generate buzz.

Morita Itsuki casually scrolled through his phone, watching familiar faces continuously posting, but he didn't see the face he had been thinking about until the interview ended.

"Phew, young people are still too impetuous. Giving up their local post to join my cause is a good thing for both him and the kids who are following him now."

"If he gets promoted, those kids will realize sooner that they don't have much talent on the field and will give up early. It's a win-win situation."

"It's alright. We can work on his temperament a bit more, and then we can use other things to keep him in check."

"I had already reached an agreement with Nagoya, so why hasn't that guy replied to me yet? Could something have gone wrong?"

Morita Itsuki thought for a moment, then exited the interview video playing on his phone and made a phone call.

"Beep...beep...beep..."

"Sorry, the number you dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later..."

Looking at his phone, which had automatically turned off its screen, Morita Itsuki frowned.

No answer? It's 11 p.m., which is indeed late, but given the other person's work schedule, they shouldn't be resting yet.

After hesitating for a moment, he dialed the other party's private number again, but still couldn't get through.

Morita Itsuki had a bad feeling. He quickly searched for news about the Nagoya Yae Dojo, and the moment he saw the first news item on the pop-up page, he froze.

"The Nagoya branch of the Northern Martial Arts Research Association...???!!! This!! This is!!!"

The man's furrowed brows deepened the wrinkles on his face, and his previously steady breathing became labored. He quickly searched for recent news about Kasamatsu.

After witnessing the outstanding performance of Oguri Hat and Fujimasa March, and considering the recent online controversy surrounding the horse racing association, Morita Itsuki finally could no longer contain his anger.

He stood up from the water, grabbed a bathrobe from the side, and hurriedly ran towards the door.

As he walked, he dialed another number and said to the person on the other end, "Auspicious omen!? Where is Madam now? I have something important to report to her!!"

Morita Itsuki never dreamed that the other party could do so many things so quietly! He had been completely kept in the dark, not even knowing that the other party had formed the Dolan Squad!

Ornn is just a young, inexperienced man; he couldn't possibly have the ability to control public opinion or even influence his informants.

The only possibility is that the family concealed all their methods, leading him into a meticulously constructed information cocoon.

Only the current head of the symbolic family, Speed ​​Symbol, can achieve this!

The woman on the other end of the phone wasn't angry at Morita Itsuki's anxious tone. Instead, she spoke in an almost mechanically calm voice, "Mr. Morita, your wife is unwell and has gone to rest. If you wish to inform her, please come back in two days."

Before he could react, the other party hung up the phone.

Feeling unwell? Morita Itsuki was almost laughing in exasperation. What a coincidence that he was feeling unwell.

This was clearly a deliberate attempt to avoid him, meaning, just as he suspected, it really was a tactic employed by the Speed ​​Symbol!

Only the horse maid, who symbolizes the family and whom he has always been at odds with, could force the head of the household to take such a step!

"Is it not just the Northern Family and the Satomi Family, but also Rudolf's family?"

"That's right... Luna won't let this golden opportunity slip by. Hey, I definitely made a mistake on this move."

Morita Itsuki, wrapped in a bathrobe, circled the room a few times, calming his chaotic thoughts.

"Now I need to concede some of my own interests in order to stabilize my current power situation. The loss in the Japanese derby has indeed caused me a great loss, but if handled well, it may be possible to minimize the damage."

"Just participating isn't enough. Unless the other side can secure a top-three finish, they can't possibly harm me."

"No rush, Morita Itsuki, no rush, let's play with him a little longer,"

The man reached for his phone and scrolled through it, his gaze falling on the November calendar.

"You like the competition, right? Then let's see what the real deal is on the field later!"

Chapter 88 Japanese Derby

Tokyo Racecourse, one hour before the start of the Japanese derby.

Oguri Hat was already dressed in her final outfit. She stared blankly at the audience who were gradually entering the stadium, and couldn't help but sigh, "Wow, there are so many people!"

"Just like curry poured over rice, they were like a topping poured over the seats in the stadium."

She turned around, her ears twitching, and asked, "How's it going? Has my ability to use metaphors improved?!"